Fishing rod handle



F. J. LocHEN 2,522,624

FISHING Ron HANDLE Filed may 1, 1946 sm. 19, 195o /7756/ 25 fZQH/ JLOCeIz atented Sept. 19l 1950 UNITEDy STATES `amENT oFFicE"jf l lFISHING ROD HANDLE lFrank J. Lochen, Chicago, Ill.

Application May'l, 1946, Serial No. Y666,264

l,2 Claims.

This invention relates to fishing rod handles, and one of the objects of the invention is to provide, in a handle of this character, improved means to be engaged by the forefinger of the hand, and improved means which co-operates with the finger engaging portion, whereby the handle will not only be comfortably held, but means are provided, such as -a flange or projection which conforms to, and is adapted to be engaged by the edge of the hand and the side of the forenger, thereby insuring a rm grip and, at the same time, permitting the thumb to be free to control the operation of the reel, without releasing or easing the grip on the handle.

Another object is to provide a one-piece handle construction of this character, having a recess or seat for receiving and holding a reel.

A further object is to provide an improved handle of this character, which will be of a simple,vdurable and light construction, and-eflicient and effective in operation.

To the attainment of these ends, and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects aswill appear, the invention consists in the features of novelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a handle of this character, constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention. v

Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. l, but from the other side of the handle, showing in dotted lines a reel in position, and also .in dotted lines a hand, showing the manner of grasping the handle.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the handle.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional View on line 4--4`, Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an end View, taken along the line 5 5, Fig. 2.

The handle consists essentially of a body portion having a recess I0, arranged substantially at the longitudinal center thereof, to provide two end portions II-I2, of any suitable length and shape, and of any suitable cross-sectional diameter. Adjacent the recess I0, the body portion is enlarged or shaped to form a laterally projecting flange I3, the outer face of which is curved, as at I4, and is of a configuration to conform to the shape of the adjacent edge or side of the hand, so that the forefinger and adjacent portion of the hand will rest comfortably theree 2` a against. This flange is of a length substantially co-extensive with the recess I0.

, The body of the handle is also enlarged, as-at I5, to form a'projecting portion that is disposed at substantially right angles to the flange I3, and this enlargement or projection .I5 is provided with a slot I6 extending transversely therethrough, for the reception of the foreflnger. The slot may be of :any desired size and shape convenient for the insertion and withdrawal of the forenger, and is preferably arranged at a slight.- 1y inclined position with respectto the length of the handle.

The unitary shing rod handle shown in the preferred embodiment of the drawing has the aligned and elongated grip and rod receiving portions I I and I2 connected by an intermediate por. tion formed to provide a reel recess IIJ of particular configuration. More specifically described, the transverse recess I0 is open atits sides and is formed to provide a reel seat be. tween fastening devices Il, and a lateral enlargement I4 at one side only of the reel seat for intimate cooperation with the hand of the user, The enlargement I4 is given the special form of a convex flange of arcuate shape. Directly beneath the reel seat the handle includes the depending longitudinal enlargement I5 having the forenger slot or aperture I6 extending therethrough and lying in a zone determined by the ends of the reel seat. As shown best in Figs. 3 and 4, it is preferable that the common sides of the handle portions II and I2 and the'depending enlargement I5 be approximately contained in a common plane. It will be further observed that the meeting surfaces of lateral enlargement I4 and depending enlargement |15 blend smoothly and are shaped and arranged for conforming engagement with the side of the forefinger and the adjacent portion of the side of a hand when the forefinger is in the aperture I6 and the grip portion II is grasped .as indicated in Fig. 2.

The reel I6, indicated in dotted lines, is seated in the recess IU, and the ends of the base of the reel are engaged by fastening devices I1, such as clips or the like, secured in position by fastening screws I8, in a manner well known in this art.

The fishing rod I9 is inserted into and secured in one end of the handle. A portion of the face of the flange I3 may be cut away or recessed, as at 20, to accommodate a projecting portion of the reel.

In use, the handle is grasped by the end I I, and the forenger is inserted into the slot or opening le, which win bring the side' f the foreflnger and the adjacent portion of the side of the hand in position to rest against the curved surface I4 of the flange I3. This will enable the user to rmly and securely grasp the handle, and the thumb will be left free to control the manipulation of the reel, Without requiring the user to release his grip, and, at the same time, the handle will t comfortably in the hand of the user, without.Y thefhand becoming tired, or cramped from gripping the handle for any considerable length of time.

2. A unitary lshing rod handle having aligned and elongated grip and rod receiving portions connected to and spaced from each other by an intermediate portion having a transverse recess open at its sides providing a reel seat, said intermediate portion being formed to provide an enlargement laterally located with respect to one side of said seat at one side only of the transverse recess and formed as a convex ange eX- tending; outwardly from the seat and being of arcuate shape, and a depending enlargement extending lengthwise of the rod handle directly be- While the preferred form of the invention has' `vnea-th the reel seat and having a forenger aperhure; extending transversely therethrough l and lyingl in entirety beneath the reel seat between the 'longitudinal ends thereof, the depending enlargement and: the; outer surface of the convex flange scope of the claims, without departing from the @Een atts. sidesV and; providing a reel seat, said intermediate portionwbei-ng formed to provide an enlargementlaterally-located with respect to one side oi said seat. at-.oneisdefonlyof the transverse recess: andi formed' asa convex ilange extending Gntwardly from the'xseat, of arcuate shape, and' a, depending enlargement. extending lengthwise 0i' the rad'- handleidirectly beneath the reel seat and having a forenger aperture extending transersely therethrough and lying in entirety beneaththefreel' seatzbetween the longitudinal ends theneof,.tire.depending erxlargementand the' outer surfacaot the convex flange being shaped and arranged; to. blend smoothly with each other and the hand: grip: portion for conforming engagement the sidesofi the forenger and the adjacent. portion of the. side of the hand when the end. of the; forefinger` is in said aperture and the hand grip portion is grasped by the palm of thev same hand.

being shaped and arranged to blend smoothly withI each other and the hand grip portion for conforming engagement with the side of the ioreiirrger'4 and. the, adjacent' portionot the: side et' the hand: when the; end or the. forerigerr is; in saidlaperture-iand; the hand grip portion: is grasped by the palm. of the same hand, and the common sides` of the grip and; rod receivingv portions and of the depending enlargement'v opposite said laterallyflocated' enlargement? lying approximately in f acommon. plane.

J. LOGI-IEN.

REFERENCES CITEDv The fclli'awin'g references are of' record in" the file' of this patent:I

STATES' PATENTS Number. Namef Date.r D. 141,078 Wheatley Mayv 1, 1.29.45. 1321150.9.51 Hill. Sept.y 14, 1.948 l-..,.5.'72;10.4 Budd Feb. 9, 1926 .-2,11%158.. Pontis v May 3, 1933 2,158,396 Birnstock May 16,v 1939 2,198,856 Bowman Apr. 30, 1940 2226,89!!4 Cole- Dec. 31, 1940 2,402,882 Garr' June: 25,- 1946 

